Rolling or flexible shutter.



PATENTED NOV. 1 3

J. OAHILL. ROLLING OR FLEXIBLE SHUTTER.

APPLICATION FILED I IOV. 8, 1904.

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J. GAHILL.

ROLLING OR FLEXIBLE SHUTTER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.8,1904.

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JOHN OAHILL, OF NORFOLK, VIRGINIA.

ROLLING OR FLEXIBLE SHUTTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 13, 1906,

Application filed November 8. 1904:. Serial No. 231,829.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHNCAHILL, a citizen of the United States, residingat Norfolk, in the county of Norfolk and State of Virginia, haveinvented a certain new and useful Improvement Relating to RollingorFlexible Shutters, of which the following is a specification.

The improvement lies in the roller and the provisions for working itwith the aid of gearing. Any of the ordinary styles of flexible shutterscan be used with my improvement. Iwill describe it as applied to oneofthe long-approved forms, using the term roller to designate a set oftwo or more pulleys which are properly spaced apart, all of equal size,and revolved alike around a horizontal axis.

WVhen the roller has by its revolution in the proper direction woundupon itself one layer of the shutter and it commences to wind the secondlayer, it has been proposed to allow the mass to correspondingly changeits position by moving to the required extent away from the building. Ido the same and cause the shutter to rise and sink truly in itsguideways always from the extreme inner line of a cylinder, whichcylinder varies in diameter as the shutter is wrapped around it.

In my improved shutter mechanism, as in many now in use, the weight ofthe shutter is approximately balanced. I have devised a construction inwhich a spring is mounted on a shaft carried within the roller, one endtaking hold of such internal shaft and the other end taking hold of theroller. The spring exerts a tension which can be modified by turningsuch inner shaft relatively to the roller, and I have combined gearingwhich revolves the inner shaft oppositely to the revolutions of theroller. The-combina tion enables me to greatly increase the action ofthe spring, producing what may in some sense be designated a doubleeffect. The double-ended spring thus arranged balances the gravity ofthe shutter very completely in all positions in which the roller may beeither permanently or temporarily held. I can use more than one springand will describe such use in a modification.

The following is a description of what I consider the best means ofcarrying out the invention.

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification.

Figure 1 is a front view with a portion in vertical longitudinal sectionon the line 3 3 in Fig. 2 parallel to the face of the wall of thebuilding. Fig. 2 is an end elevation. Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 in Fig. 2, on a larger scale. The remaining figures show amodification. Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal section on the line 4 4in Fig. 5, partly in front elevation. Fig. 5 is an end viewcorresponding thereto seen from the right, and Fig. 6 is a section ofthe roller and the upper portion of the shutter. All the views show theshutter nearly unrolled.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all thefigures where they appear.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2, and 3, A is the wall of the building; A, theusual vertical casings of metal, which form guideways M, the rollingshutter, having its edges loosely embraced in such ways as it hangssuspended in position for work and is slowly raised and lowered, and A Aare brackets extending horizontally outward from the face of thebuilding. O C are carriages adapted to travel thereon and to formsupports for the roller and its attachments as they move toward and fromthe building when required.

D is a sleeve rotated by two forces, one a spring E, inclosed, another agear-wheel D This sleeve performs three important functions. D, firmlyfixed thereon, constituting the roller and carrying the weight of theshutter through screws N, which secure the upper slat of the shutterthereto. Another function consists in receiving the varying tend- Oneconsists in supporting pulleys ency of gravity to turn the roller aroundto let the shutter run down and the varying spring force which opposessuch tendency, and a third function consists in receiving, through thegear-wheel D a force imparted by the operator, which latter force isaddi tional to the force received through the spring E. I show thesleeve D as carrying two pulleys D; it may carry more. Whatever thenumber, they are rigidly attached to the sleeve. Means being applied toturn the gear D compels the required revolution of the sleeve D and thepulleys D, and the latter compels the desired elevation of the shutter Mor by the turning force being applied in the opposite direction allowsthe sinking thereof. The sleeve D in this form of the invention extendsthe whole breadth of the shutter in one continuous length and issupported at the endsthe left end in a bearing formed in the carriage O,riding on the bracket I IIC ter.

A and the right end in a bearing formed in the more elaborate carriage Criding on the bracket A It will be seen that the gear-wheel D receivesforce according as the varying effect of the gravity of the shutter, theamount of spring force, and the friction of the parts shall preponderatethat is to say, the winding up of the shutter reduces the quantity ofthe shutter depending from one side, but also by winding one layer uponanother increases the effective diameter of the roller, and thusincreases the leverage of the weight remaining. These changes tend. toequalize each other. The relaxing of the tension of the spring E as theshutter is wound up introduces another element of importance. Thesechanges, with the parts proportioned as shown, tend to equalize theaction at all the different stages, but it does not perfectly balance.There is likely to be an unbalanced resultant force in some positions ofthe shut- The gearing by turning the internal shaft and varying thetension of the spring serves to equalize the action in this regard.

In the form of the invention here shown only one spring is used. This isin a helical form of small diameter loosely inclosed within the sleeve Dand extends a good portion of the length of its interior. One end of thespring takes hold of a cross-pin D in the sleeve D. The other end is setin a transverse hole in the short inner shaft B, which turns freely inits interior and constitutes an abutment for the spring and can beturned to increase or reduce the tension of the spring.

The gear-wheel D carrying the sleeve D, is engaged by a gear-wheel Gkeyed on a short shaft extending through the carriage C and carrying agear-wheel G which engages with the gear-wheel P keyed on the shaft Pand controlled by a sprocket-wheel P by the aid of a chain O, running onthe latter and worked by the attendant. This arrangement connects thesleeve D with the short internal shaft B and insures that whenever thechain 0 is overhauled to cause the rotation of the sprocket-wheel P thesame operation revolves the sleeve D and pulleys D in one derection andalso turns the short inner shaft B in the opposite direction andincreases or diminishes the tension of the spring. 13 is a gear-wheel onthe outer end of this internal shaft.

The revolutions of the shaft B and the sleeve D in opposite directionscontribute to the life and usefulness of the spring motion. As shown,these parts not only revolve simultaneously, but revolve to equalextents in opposite directions. I attach much importance to thiscondition; but it is not essential that the revolutions in oppositedirections be exactly equal. A portion of the benefit would be obtainedby other ratios.

A modification is set forth in Figs. 4, 5,

and 6. In this the wall of the building, the guideways, the brackets,and the pulleys, which constitute portions of the rolling shutter, aresubstantially as in the preceding fig ures and are where necessarymarked with corresponding lower-case letters and supernumerals. In thisform of the invention, as in the other, the direct application of theoperating power is to the outer shaft or sleeve. The sleeve is inseveral lengths. In this, as in the other form, the inner shaft isturned simultaneously with the outer shaft or sleeves and in theopposite direction, and in this, as in the other form, the inner shaftacts on the pulleys onlythrough spring force. As shown, two springs areused. The inner shaft 1) extends quite across and is supported in thecarriages c 0 The outer shaft in the form of several short sleeves issupported loosely on the inner shaft. These sleeves and the pulleysfixed thereon are of two kinds or classes, one receiving motion torevolve in one direction or the other through direct gearing and theother contributing to aid such motionthrough springs which are engagedwith the inner shaft. Turning the inner shaft modifies the action of thesprings. I have shown two pulleys in each class. Greater numbers may beused, or one alone may serve.

A gear-wheel b is fixed on an overhanging end, by means of which theinner shaft 1) can be turned. The first sleeve is marked (1 There arepulleys (Z fixed on such first sleeve, but the sleeve turns loosely onthis shaft. The upper slat of the shutter is fastened to these pulleysby screws n.

The springs d are each formed of thln fiat steel coiled in a volute formlike a clockspring. Each is inclosed within the hollow interior of apulley d. I have shown two ad ditional pulleys, which are ofcorresponding size and are useful by engaging with the shutter to fillout the form of the roller. They do not contribute to raise or lower theshutter. So far as such motion is concerned they are mere dummies. Theymay be similarly hollow, but without springs, or they may be solidpulleys. These dummy pulleys are fixed on a sleeve, which latter isloosely mounted on the inner shaft b.

A pitch-chain 0 1s adapted to be overhauled by the hand of the operatorto turn the sprocket-wheel p in one direction or the the other at will.The shaft 1) extends through the carriage c and carries a spurwheel I)",which latter engages with an idle wheel turning loosely on a stud ciandthis gears with a spur-wheel g, fixed on a'shaft g. which extendsthrough the carriage c and carries a larger spur-wheel 9 which latterreceiving motion from the sprocket-wheel, through gearing as shown,serves in two ways, first, by meshing with the wheel (1 turning the longsleeve 90, which has the pulleys y y fixed thereon, these pulleys alsobe ing secured to the shutter m by screws n,- and, second, by the meansabove referred to of its shaft 9, extending out through the carriage cand carrying the gear 9, meshing with the idler g and through the latterturning the larger gear 6 and thus rotating the shaft 1) in thedirection opposite to the rotation of the long sleeve.v In both formsthe elastic action of one or more springs properly adjusted supports aportion of the weight of the shutter. In both forms force is applied byother means to overcome friction and to operate in either direction tomove the shutter up or down, whether the tension of the springs and theweight and leverage of the shutter are perfectly balanced or not, and inboth there is automatic change in the spring force, which may correspondso closely to the change in effect of the weight of the shutter as therising and sinking of the shutter progresses that the unbalanced forceremaining is so slight as to be insignificant.

Further modifications may be made without departing from the principleor sacrificing the advantages of the invention. Parts can be usedwithout the whole. I have shown the mechanism for partially rotating theshaft B and thus changing the tension of the springs as applied only toone side' of the window. I prefer such construction; but a moreelaborate form could he obviously made with the mechanism at both ends.

I include in the term rolling shutter or flexible shutter any of thevarious forms of metal or wood partitions, elastic or made in sections,hinged together and wound upon a roller, and pendent therefrom bygravity. The number of the pulleys may be varied within wide limits. Thesize of the pulleys may be varied.

I use the term double-acting as applied to the spring to mean that theends alternate in their action, the two ends being not necessarily alikein form, but being each ready to serve and. actually serving at someperiods as the working end and at other periods simply as the abutmentfor the action.

I claim as my invention 1. In a shutter-operating mechanism, a hollowroller, a flexible shutter engaged therewith, a shaft, a springconnected at one end with the shaft and at the other end with the rollerand mechanism for turning said shaft and roller in opposite directionsto each other, substantially as described.

7 within the roller, said spring being connected with the roller andsaid shaft, and means for revolving the shaft and the roller in oppositedirections to each other in raising and lowering the shutter,substantially as described.

4. In a shutter-operating mechanism, a roller comprising two classes ofpulleys having a flexible shutter engaged therewith, a

revoluble shaft within the roller, springs connecting said roller andone class of pulleys for transmitting motion through said springs, andmeans for actuating the other class of pulleys, substantially asdescribed.

5. Ina shutter-operating mechanism, a roller, a flexible shutterconnected therewith, a revoluble shaft within the roller, aspringinclosed in said roller and connected therewith and to said shaft,and a train of gearing connecting the roller with the shaft and havingits members arranged so that the roller and the shaft may turn inopposite directions to each other to vary the tension of the spring inraising and lowering the shutter, substantially as described.

6. In a shutter-operating mechanism, the combination of the rollercarrying a flexible shutter, the oppositely-disposed. carriages havingthe roller journaled therein and provided. with. wheels at their upperends, and the laterally-extending brackets upon which said wheels travelback and forth and from which the roller-carriage is suspended, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the invention above set forth I affix mysignature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN CAHILL.

Witnesses VInGiNIUs TUCKER, Os CIE DASHIELL.

